lighting for nano cube 24g

bellareef2 · 07/17/2008, 06:47 PM

Hi, I will be starting a reef aquarium in a 24g deluxe nano cube with lighting modifications. I am considering the the following:

1X70w Metal halide with 2X18w Actinic PC

The aquarium size is 19 X 17 X 17.5 ( I do not have the aquarium yet)

Since I am new to reef keeping I would like to start with softies and some LPS corals and would like to have a clam.

Is this lighting sufficient or should I go with more lighting?

How does it compare to 3X36w PC and 1X24 PC lights?

Should I go with a 150w metal halide??

Help....please .......

Thanks,

Mark426 · 07/17/2008, 07:03 PM

Not enough for a clam. Sorry. A 150 will be fine, but remember the heat from a 150 will be problematic in a 24G nanocube. IMO, as a long time nanoreefer, clams and sps are not suited for nanotanks unless you have lots of experience and lots of time. Keeping up with the chemistry requirements for a clam in a nanocube is very difficult. You will have to dose all the time.

I have had both 24 and 12G nanocubes with lighting from stock PC's to LED's. Your best bet for a 24G nanocube is nanocustoms.com's 3.36 PC upgrade. Its perfect for all softies and SOME LPS. MH is not easy in a closed top nanocube as heat will be a major problem and with no top then evaporation starts to be a problem. Either one gives you an unstable tank. Please do yourself a favor.... get the 3.36 upgrade (or add the extra 1.24 too) and be happy with zoas. rics, muchrooms, etc. If you want LPS,Clams, SPs...get a bigger tank.

Here is my softie thank

All of this was grown under 3 24W PC's.

bellareef2 · 07/17/2008, 07:12 PM

Hey Mark,

Thanks for your input. I am dealing with Nick at nanocustoms. I was almost settled on the 3.36 upgrade (total 132w) I think we are talking about the same upgrade. Nick threw in this other option (the 70w MH with 2X18w PCs. I want to be successful so the clam is not important but I did want to consider some LPHs along with the softies. Would the 3.36 upgrade be good? Your tank is beautiful. Hope mine turns out to be as nice. Where did you get the live rock?

Thanks

bellareef2 · 07/17/2008, 07:12 PM

forgot one thing....how deep is your sand bed?

Mark426 · 07/17/2008, 08:28 PM

Sandbed is 1/2 to 1 inch max. I got my rock from Fosters and Smith...their nanorock. I would stick with the 3.36. You can add the 1.24 option if you want. I would not get the 70W + 2.18. I have that on my 12G nanocube and it works well. However I had less troubles when I had the 4.24 mod in my 12G and I actually had better growth for some reason. I love nanocustoms and they do FANTASTIC work. I just think the MH mods in the nanocubes are just a little to much for the design to handle. Heat will be a constant problem. It can be overcome with several methods...its just not worth the troubles/worries. Best overall performance..3.36 + the 1.24 Thats just my 2 cents.

Nickeleye · 08/01/2008, 03:42 PM

Actually heat is quite manageable in the 12g DX and 24g DX with a 70w HQI. Now that we are using the cross-venting fans to blow across the HQI fixture the canopy runs ridiculously cool. Dare I even say as cool as the stock PC lighting. Now, infrared heat is another thing. The 150w HQI's definitely throw extra infrared heat and will add a few degrees to the tank as is. In our experience the 70w units are much more manageable and usually put out 1-2 degrees of heat from the bulb. So, depending on ambient temperature conditions, pumps, and which system you're running it could still be quite possible to run one of these 70w systems without a problem.

07/17/2008, 06:47 PM	#1
bellareef2 Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: California Posts: 4	lighting for nano cube 24g Hi, I will be starting a reef aquarium in a 24g deluxe nano cube with lighting modifications. I am considering the the following: 1X70w Metal halide with 2X18w Actinic PC The aquarium size is 19 X 17 X 17.5 ( I do not have the aquarium yet) Since I am new to reef keeping I would like to start with softies and some LPS corals and would like to have a clam. Is this lighting sufficient or should I go with more lighting? How does it compare to 3X36w PC and 1X24 PC lights? Should I go with a 150w metal halide?? Help....please ....... Thanks, __________________ bellareef2 Current Tank Info: na

07/17/2008, 07:03 PM	#2
Mark426 Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: South Carolina Posts: 2,479	Not enough for a clam. Sorry. A 150 will be fine, but remember the heat from a 150 will be problematic in a 24G nanocube. IMO, as a long time nanoreefer, clams and sps are not suited for nanotanks unless you have lots of experience and lots of time. Keeping up with the chemistry requirements for a clam in a nanocube is very difficult. You will have to dose all the time. I have had both 24 and 12G nanocubes with lighting from stock PC's to LED's. Your best bet for a 24G nanocube is nanocustoms.com's 3.36 PC upgrade. Its perfect for all softies and SOME LPS. MH is not easy in a closed top nanocube as heat will be a major problem and with no top then evaporation starts to be a problem. Either one gives you an unstable tank. Please do yourself a favor.... get the 3.36 upgrade (or add the extra 1.24 too) and be happy with zoas. rics, muchrooms, etc. If you want LPS,Clams, SPs...get a bigger tank. Here is my softie thank All of this was grown under 3 24W PC's. Last edited by Mark426; 07/17/2008 at 07:09 PM.

07/17/2008, 07:12 PM	#3
bellareef2 Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: California Posts: 4	Hey Mark, Thanks for your input. I am dealing with Nick at nanocustoms. I was almost settled on the 3.36 upgrade (total 132w) I think we are talking about the same upgrade. Nick threw in this other option (the 70w MH with 2X18w PCs. I want to be successful so the clam is not important but I did want to consider some LPHs along with the softies. Would the 3.36 upgrade be good? Your tank is beautiful. Hope mine turns out to be as nice. Where did you get the live rock? Thanks __________________ bellareef2 Current Tank Info: na

07/17/2008, 07:12 PM	#4
bellareef2 Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: California Posts: 4	forgot one thing....how deep is your sand bed? __________________ bellareef2 Current Tank Info: na

07/17/2008, 08:28 PM	#5
Mark426 Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: South Carolina Posts: 2,479	Sandbed is 1/2 to 1 inch max. I got my rock from Fosters and Smith...their nanorock. I would stick with the 3.36. You can add the 1.24 option if you want. I would not get the 70W + 2.18. I have that on my 12G nanocube and it works well. However I had less troubles when I had the 4.24 mod in my 12G and I actually had better growth for some reason. I love nanocustoms and they do FANTASTIC work. I just think the MH mods in the nanocubes are just a little to much for the design to handle. Heat will be a constant problem. It can be overcome with several methods...its just not worth the troubles/worries. Best overall performance..3.36 + the 1.24 Thats just my 2 cents.

08/01/2008, 03:42 PM	#6
Nickeleye Premium Member Join Date: Apr 2004 Posts: 783	Actually heat is quite manageable in the 12g DX and 24g DX with a 70w HQI. Now that we are using the cross-venting fans to blow across the HQI fixture the canopy runs ridiculously cool. Dare I even say as cool as the stock PC lighting. Now, infrared heat is another thing. The 150w HQI's definitely throw extra infrared heat and will add a few degrees to the tank as is. In our experience the 70w units are much more manageable and usually put out 1-2 degrees of heat from the bulb. So, depending on ambient temperature conditions, pumps, and which system you're running it could still be quite possible to run one of these 70w systems without a problem.